Stitch 1 Bitch 1 Purl 2 Knit 2...
Some think that
the term Stitich n' Bitch has only been claimed by Debbie Stoller,
the author of the book that exploded onto the knitting scene in New
York, influencing knitters as far as Los Angeles, Chicago and
worldwide. Her book line includes the Stitch n' Bitch
Nation which has patterns and stories from across the nation
and Son of Stitch n' Bitch which boasts male-friendly
knitting patterns. But this quirky author wasn't the first to coin
the infamous term.
According to Anne McDonald, since in the 1920s, women were using the Stitch n' Bitch as a weekly retreat. While their husbands were overseas, they would gather, gossiping and chatting about anything from parenting to politics. Exchanging advice, whether it be knitting or friendly help. It was an opportunity to see friends, complete projects and have a laugh or two. According to her record within No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting, this was not only a social gathering, but one that had "bound them for life" through their shared war sorrows and personal struggles brought together with a simple ball of yarn.
Today, Stitch n'
Bitch Groups hold weekly, biweekly and monthly meetings to
reconnect and knit together. However, trademark slips have made the
term a slippery slope.Elissa Meyrich claims that she owns the rights to the phrase. The creator of Sew Fast Sew Easy claims she owns the rights to the phrase representing groups worldwide. According to her, she had the name coined back in 1997 when she started up the Stitch n' Bitch Cafe online. She now has a line of knitting materials under the same name.
This has created some confusion and depletion of the Stitch n' Bitch circles, some reported to have been told to change their name or close down their groupings because of Trademark infringement. Some groups have reportedly changed their mark to things such as Born to Knit, or simple SNB to avoid hassle.
Elissa and Debbie, now arch enemies continue to pull each others' hair for trademark rights. At least they've got the second part of the phrase set forth, but how far can knitting be taken from the pure art of it
to the mes of trademark
laws?The Stitch n' Bitch began as a community fosterer, one of coming together to craft, talk and to be. Although groups still continue to thrive, where does the commercial aspect of knitting play its part? Will the fight over rights of the tiny TM continue? Will we see some mini jousting in the form of knitting needles and opponents?
For now, what we can be sure of is that Stitch n' Bitch has stirred the pot since it's beginning, whether through chatter, clickin' needles or commercial battles.
Let's just hope that knitting can continue beyond the drama.
Macdonald, Anne L. No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting. New York: Ballantine Books, 1988.
Sew Fast, Sew Easy: Stitch n' Bitch Cafe: http://www.sewfastseweasy.com/stitch_and_bitch/index.php
Stitch n' Bitch Page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_%27n_Bitch
Stoller, Debbie (2004). Stitch 'n Bitch Nation. New York: Workman Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7611-3590-1.
Stoller, Debbie (2007). Son of Stitch 'n Bitch: 45 Projects to Knit and Crochet for Men (Paperback). New York: Workman Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0761146179.
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